Stairway to Heaven: 7 Interiors With Spectacular Step Designs

Staircases—a functional link between higher and lower elevations. To some, an annoyance that has to be overcome. To others, a design opportunity.

In most homes stairs appear to be a design flaw, rushed and uninspired, a simple wooden incline complete with boring rails and posts. More of a physical challenge than a work of beauty, staircases rarely get the care and attention they deserve.

However, as these following examples prove, in the hands of talented interior designers stairs can be raised to the level of art. Yes, climbing them will still be a burden, but at least you can do it in style and make it a Spectacular Step Designs.

Far from your usual wooden posts and rail, this sleek glass ensemble is an optical delight.

Accessories are a great way to breathe life into such walkways. Here, the suspended red and white discs command attention through their brilliant glow but also leave shimmering echoes of themselves on the wall and glass rails, and even on the actual staircase.

Because the angles and effects of the light change with the movement of the discs, there's always something new to see.

Fun, colourful and highly personalized, these stairs lead up to a child's bed and play area.

Like two-tier bunk beds, children enjoy the idea of being higher up than everyone else (who doesn't?), and this stairway gives them a chance to experience just that. Decked out with tiger-skin wallpaper, photo frames and vibrant letter ornaments, the larger than usual steps are kid-friendly and make it easy to walk up and down.

Narrow, thin slats and without rails, this staircase looks more like a ladder.

As our eyes follow the steps upwards, they appear to narrow until our gaze lands square on the wall-mounted Buddha—a neat trick of perspective which artfully suggests that these stairs are akin to a ladder, something to be climbed in order to be closer to the sacred and spiritual.

Besides the minimalist use of materials, the dark colours match the established palette of the surrounding decor.

Nothing says elegance like a home rich in simple whites with a dash of other colours.

Here, the combination of white and brown steps with dark railings enable this staircase to stand out but never dominate, which is the whole point: nothing in this interior is supposed to be the sole object of attraction. Rather, the home aims for a cohesion between various elements, as evidenced by the teeming whites of the walls, floors, ceilings and even furniture.

In addition to providing a functional means to ascend and descend floors, this staircase adds to the overall aesthetic tone and luxuriousness of the apartment.

Not every stairway needs to be tall. Some, like in this example, can just have a step or two.

Besides saving you the trouble of a climb, these steps are visually beautiful. The almost brick-like patterning on their wooden surface creates a nice fusion of styles and textures, while their gentle use of colour is attuned to the pleasant blues, whites and grays of the room.